More scanned pics

[GyroRon]

Here is some pics I dug up. Here is my first gyro not too long after I got it. Here I am making ready to fly at Immokalee Florida. Taken sometime early 2001

Also a pic of Catfish, Fred and myself in the gyro hangar that same day.

[GyroRon]

Here is what my first gyro looked like not long before I sold it. I had made brackets on the trailer so I didn't have to take off the blades to trailer it. Re painted the frame and took off alot of parts and polished them on a buffer. It wasn't a bad gyro, just not much power for my fat butt.

[GyroRon]

Here is a pic of me getting my first lesson flying back in December of 1995. It was COLD out that whole week. We would fly for a hour or so and then land and warm up for three hours and then go back out and do another hour. But I did make it through the program in 4 days and had a great solo flight!

[GyroRon]

My first two planes. The Quicksilver wasn't real pretty but it was solid and flew pretty good. I had added the pod and windshield and it bumped up my cruise speed by nearly 10 mph! The Phantom was Super Sweet. I regret ever selling that one! It was one of only 3 or 4 two place Phantoms ever built and was the one in all the factory ads.

[GyroRon]

here is me flying over the sandbar with my old single place Phantom with floats. That was a blast!..... till I sunk the plane one day :eek:

the other pic is the Team Himax I had just before I bought my first gyro. This thing was ugly and I wasn't fond of a all wood airplane, but it was cheap and that was what I was looking for at the time

[GyroRon]

Last one is of the Powered Parachute I bought and taught myself to fly. Really wouldn't mind having another one like this. This one folded up with no tools and could go in the back of your car, take it any where and fly!

I had my first ever engine out with this thing while foolishly flying over a river. I had no where to land except the water.... That thing does not float! Lucky for me the bottom was soft - it planted my face right into the mud - it was light - I was stuck under it and had it been alot heavier I would have drown under it - and last the water was shallow. Thank goodness. Had it flying again a week or two later....

[joeheli]

Ron You are really a EVIL CANIVAL. You shud be a stunt man on HOLLYWOOD -you will be making alote of money. I am glad nothing happen to you.

[Dale Young]

Hey Ron, How did those blade holders on the trailer work out? Any flexing or ill effects? It seems like a great idea for myself since I travel alot with mine. ( Have to carry 2 ladders and setup being a pain in the butt!!!)

[GyroRon]

It worked great and I had no problems with them. BUT..... none of the blade manufactors like it and most anyone who thinks about it will tell you trailering with the blades on is not good for the gyro.

But it does make it real easy and quick to unload and go flying!

[Dale Young]

It would seem ,by looking at your picture, that you did a really good job at distributing the blade weight out over it's length. With that being considered, and the fact that they were obviously strapped down adequately, It would seem that no damage could possibly occur. Boy I sure would like to copy that, But now ya got me nervous. How could anything that the gyro could incurr on the trailer be any worse than what could happen in the air?

[GyroRon]

It just pounds the rotorhead bearing and all it's pivot points. The nearly 50 pound rotor is supported by the front and rear supports and in the middle by the rotorhead. I guess it isn't any worse than taxiing the gyro over a bumpy grass strip. But that is bad for a gyro too!

Look if you want to do yours this way, GO for it! Lot's of people do it and I have not heard of anyone having a problem due to it. Of course no matter how you look at it, their rotorhead is wearing faster than others, but just rebuild it more often and no problems.

My trailering rig was made where both poles could be removed quickly in case I wanted to tow my motorcycle or something else on the trailer. The front pole was just under a inch steel square tubing and it slid into another square tube that was just slightly bigger. That tube was only a foot or so high and I used a bolt through both tubes to get them together. Remove the bolt and pull the pole up and it was off. But I left it on always when I had the gyro on the trailer. The rear support was built as a whole unit built out of the same just under 1 inch tubing and the whole unit slid into two next size larger tubes welded to the top of the metal rails at the rear of the trailer. I used a bolt in each side to keep it in place. To unload the gyro I took off the bungees off both front and rear blade supports and took out the bolts for the rear support and slid it out. the rotorblades would tend to lay back at this point and be off the front support. I would then use my blade strap to secure the blades in the normal position. Then I pulled another pin and the trailer floor would tilt back and I just rolled the gyro off. Took about 3-5 minutes max from pulling up in the truck to having the gyro off and ready for pre flight.

[skyking]

Here is what my first gyro looked like not long before I sold it. I had made brackets on the trailer so I didn't have to take off the blades to trailer it. Re painted the frame and took off alot of parts and polished them on a buffer. It wasn't a bad gyro, just not much power for my fat butt.

How fast were you able to travel with the Blades locked on your trailer brackets? Were there any issues? I purchased a SparrowHawk Kit that should be in my garage in Oct. I am thinking of renting space in a local barn and trailer to Morgantown, PA Airport, 3 miles from home. Thoughts? Recommendations? Thank you.

[Vance]

I would try to find a hanger to share at the airport so you don't have to put it on a trailer. A gyro doesn't take up much room in a hanger so you may be able to share with a small fixed wing. Since you are a serious about Autogyros and going to be around for a while it would be nice if you would fill out your profile so we can get to know you better. Welcome! Thank You, Vance

[GyroRon]

SkyKing, There is NO WAY, None, nadda etc... that I would trailer a 30 thousand dollar Sparrowhawk with it's 4500$ rotorblades still attached to it. NO way don't even think about it is my advise. The gyro in the pic above that I trailered had a 1500$ set of blades and was worth as a whole package trailer gyro and all maybe 5 grand. I could replace the whole outfit for what just your blades cost.